Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Portrait of Bethany

This a portrait of my daughter, Bethany.

I've really enjoyed doing this picture. The Polychromos are beautiful to use. Unlike the Prismacolors, I can add multiple layers without the picture suddenly becoming clogged with wax. At times, the pencils almost felt like paint.

I am still experimenting but I feel much more comfortable with my art again, now.

Here are some of the stages for this portrait.

The initial outline in dark flesh.

The first of the skin layers.

Does it look a bit eighteenth-century with the white hair?

The general flow of the hair in a mid-tone.

With the hair taking shape, I could see problems with the features and the colour of the flesh. More contrasting and subduing layers needed.

At this stage, I realised I'd been taking some of the photos at a strange angle - oops!

Somehow, the picture ended on a slant - another oops!

Next, I have the urge to do some soft graphite and two-tone portraits. I'll share how it goes.

Hi Sue, Bethany says she likes it but she'd like it more if I framed it! I have two framed pictures on the wall but the others are tucked away in boxes or my portfolio. It would be nice to have a recent one of each of the children on the wall. I'm about halfway through.

I've got a couple of ideas for next time - it will probably be Megan or Carrie but I haven't quite decided, yet.